Topgolf is ringing in 2018 with an unforgettable gold themed party featuring all-inclusive packages!

Guests are invited to experience the one of a kind Topgolf experience in a whole new (glittering) light. Featuring a chef-inspired menu, music and dancing, and, of course, plenty of Topgolf gameplay, Topgolf is the ultimate destination for ringing in the New Year!

General reservations begin at $225 for heated bays that accommodate up to eight guests. VIP reservations, priced at $425, include access to a premium dinner buffet, a VIP bay for up to six guests, a complimentary champagne toast at midnight and plenty of NYE party favors. Both reservations include unlimited Topgolf gameplay from 9 p.m. to close.

From all-inclusive packages, to a place decked out in all gold everything, we're doing New Year's Eve big! Enjoy live entertainment, a chef-inspired menu and an unforgettable midnight celebration.

All New Year's Eve packages include unlimited game play from 9 p.m. to close and party favors for up to 6 Guests. Upgrade to the VIP Package for exclusive access to the hand-carved prime rib dinner buffet (like they said, they're doing it big).

Ring in 2018 with a Grand Buffet, DJ and Dancing at Cuba Libre’s Fantástico New Year’s Eve Celebration

Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar, located in Pointe Orlando on International Drive, is now accepting reservations for its New Year’s Eve celebration.

The evening will feature an incredible buffet spanning the entire Havana Ballroom, plus late night admission, DJ and dancing, a champagne toast, reserved table throughout the night, plus party favors and noisemakers to ring in the New Year, all for $85 per person, or $45 for children under 12.

An optional open bar package is available as an add-on for $25 for those ages 21 and older. Reservations for the New Year’s Eve buffet are available for 9, 9:30 and 10:00 p.m. and can be made by calling the restaurant directly at 407-226-1600.

A raw bar, artisan breads and cheeses, charcuterie, tapas, side dishes, and ten different desserts will also be featured in the New Year’s Eve buffet. A full buffet menu is available on Cuba Libre’s website.

For those wishing to dine early, Cuba Libre’s a la carte dinner menu will be served from 5-8 p.m. The dinner menu features two-time James Beard Award-winning Chef-Partner Guillermo Pernot’s classic and contemporary Cuban tapas, appetizers, entrees, cocktails and desserts. Reservations for the earlier seating can be made onCuba Libre’s website.

Cuba Libre has been a must-see, must-experience restaurant in Pointe Orlando since it first opened in 2008. The restaurant and rum bar serves dinner daily from 5 p.m. until 11 p.m. Happy Hour is available every day of the week from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. The bar is open until 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. For more information, visitwww.CubaLibreRestaurant.com or follow Cuba Libre onFacebook, Twitter and Instagram

The chef driven concept is located in the heart of Downtown Orlando at 116 West Church St. (between Hamburger Mary’s and the train tracks) and will introduce this city to his style of fusion that marries Latin and Asian cuisines in a truly unique way.

“I moved to Orlando this summer and have had the opportunity to explore the different neighborhoods and am just in love with all the different little unique pockets, especially downtown,” Trevino said. “Orlando is in this amazing place right now as a food city, and I feel blessed to be part of what’s happening here and hope that people discover us downtown and get as excited about our food as we are about being here.”

Trevino, a native of California, moved to Puerto Rico in the early 1990s where he solidified his culinary reputation as a star chef with some of the island’s most popular restaurants including Dragonfly, Aguaviva and Budatai. Trevino has cooked dinner at the James Beard Foundation house in New York for their award events, and is frequently featured as a guest chef in food events throughout the US and the Caribbean.

He has made numerous television appearances both in Puerto Rico and the US, including a battle against renowned Chef Mario Batali on Iron Chef America, as a contestant on The Next Iron Chef, with Rachael Ray on her show $40 a Day, as well as on his own local shows Kandela and 4 Minutos con Chef Treviño. He’s currently a recurring guest judge on Food Network’s Beat Bobby Flay.

A diverse selection of sides range from Teriyaki Tots (Trevino loves tater tots) to Chicharron Popovers. The bar program will place an emphasis on craft cocktails and beer, with an emphasis on local brews and will also serve wine.

“Orlando really seems to love its beer and cocktails, which is great as they pair beautifully with our food,” Trevino said. “Our wine list will be focused, with some really interesting grapes featured, and of course we will have a few of the big guns as well for those who are really into wine.”

Located on Church street, the restaurant is dotted with original artwork and unique artifacts. The historic building dates back to the 1880s, and Trevino has kept much of it intact to reflect its historic roots with lots of exposed brick, wood and an open kitchen. A spire from the original Arturo Fuente cigar factory from West Tampa (circa early 1900s) serves as the center focal point of the dining room, bringing a touch of Latin history to the space.

A serene outdoor patio filled with fresh herbs and comfortable seating will also feature live entertainment once Trevino and his team launch their weekend brunch. One of the restaurants most interesting components can’t be seen unless the guests go exploring.

At the bottom of the steps where the spire holds court is The Cellar, a prohibition style cocktail lounge that will serve a variety of El Buda’s signature cocktails and is the perfect place to begin, or end, an evening.

“We really want The Cellar to be a place where we can have a little fun and showcase some of the great cocktails we are bringing to El Buda,” Trevino said. “We want to invite the city’s top mixologists to come and present their ideas as well, and create a space that transports our guests back to the days of the speakeasy.”

El Buda is located at 116 W. Church Street (look for the side entrance adjacent to the SunRail tracks) and is open daily for lunch and dinner starting at 11:30am.

Weekend brunch is expected to launch before the end of the year. Learn more by visiting the restaurant’s Facebook Page or by calling (407) 203-8171. Guests can also follow on Instagram @ElBudaDowntown or Chef Trevino’s personal Twitter account @cheftrevino

Pepe’s Cantina in Winter Park took over a space that used to be Mi Tomatina, a place that specialized in Paella in late 2015. Ever since then, Pepe’s has been a great success at the Hannibal Square location and has become a staple of good eats in Winter Park.

Pepe’s has done so well in fact, that the owners decided to open a second location in Downtown Orlando at 120 W. Church street, adjacent to Hamburger Mary’s.

Sure, they have Tex-Mex classics like enchiladas, chimichangas, tacos and burritos, but Pepe’s strives to be innovative with a menu that puts a new twist on traditional Mexican cuisine. Table side guacamole, tacos with authentic fillings and fresh homemade tortillas are great for lunch or dinner, but ordering off of the dinner menu is where the difference is. Pepe is a real person by the way, as in Chef Jose "Pepe" Baranneko.

For dinner they serve entrees like Pollo Pepe’s a grilled chicken breast served with onions, peppers, tomatoes and bacon and is topped off with a signature red sauce and queso, or the Pacific Salmon topped with a sweet and sour mango jalapeno sauce. An interesting appetizer on the menu is the Shrimp Dip which is grilled shrimp with cheese dip, topped with pickled onions and cilantro.

Of course any good Tex-Mexery should have plenty Tequila and Margarita specials on hand, and Pepe’s certainly delivers in that category. Guests can try a Spicy Mango Margarita, a Jalapeno Margarita, a Mezcal-Rita or just go straight for the good stuff and slam a shot of Avion Reserva 44 extra anejo for $26.00/shot.

I haven't got to try out all there is at the new Church Street location, but we did stop by for lunch one day, and it was really good.

Chips and Salsa are standard fare at any Mexican restaurant these days, but this salsa is made in house as well as the chips, and that’s what really makes Pepe’s so good. They focus on fresh.

These Grilled Chicken Tacos were topped with radicchio, pickled red onions and cilantro then topped with a chive aioli sauce and are served with black beans and Mexican rice. You can choose flour or corn and soft or hard for your taco, and all tortillas are made in house.

This is a Mexican Pizza. It’s totally not what you would expect, but that’s what Pepe’s really strives for...classic dishes, or even not so classic, like a Mexican Pizza, made with different ingredients, flavors and styles that you are not accustomed to. You can choose shredded chicken or ground beef, and they top it with red sauce, cheese, jalapenos, sour cream and cilantro and serve it atop a lightly baked tortilla.

Stop by the new location and say Hola to Pepe. Chef Pepe and his team are doing a great job at both locations offering his signature blend of authentic Mexican ingredients with innovative culinary techniques.

Vanbarry’s Public House is another one of those places that I've always meant to go and checkout, but never got the chance to.

With the busy holiday season, cooking at home is a rarity, so we find ourselves dining out more often than not. I'm glad I finally got to go there, and I can tell you, I have been there a few times since. They have a really great atmosphere, great drinks and pretty good food too.

Vanbarry's is part of three bars and restaurants that are operated by Caitlin Van Voorhis. She is the proprietor of Finnhenry's in downtown Orlando, which is up the road from Vanbarry’s on North Orange Avenue, and also Ollie's Public House in College Park.

All three locations have a public house vibe but Vanbarry’s really tries to step away and just be a real down home neighborhood bar. Ollies is great also, but that location is more sports oriented, and Finnhenry's is in the heart of downtown that is known to get a little wild on the weekends, So Vanbarry’s is the just right bar in the just right location.

The food served here really covers a multitude of items from classic bar and pub food to a boneless braised short rib bowl. They have peel and eat shrimp, a mac & cheese skillet, nachos, burgers, sandwiches and flatbreads. Most things are pretty traditional, but a few items on the menu are very unique and delicious.

They also have an extensive craft beer selection on tap or out of the bottle, but cocktails and mixed drinks are a specialty here. There is a pretty extensive drink menu placed by the bar and it shouldn't be too hard to find something to fix what ales you. Wine is also available.

What really makes Vanbarry’s such a cool spot is the atmosphere and set up of the restaurant. The have a pretty expansive outside seating area that is mostly covered. The uncovered part has a sandpit with a firepit in the middle and plenty of lounge chairs to sit back and unwind in.

Inside is surprisingly spacious with table tops, high tops and seating at the bar. Most nights there is live music and the vibe here is as casual and laid back as it gets.

The Spring Fizz cocktail is made with Drumshanbo dry gin, rosemary simple syrup, lemon and prosecco. This is a great sipping drink.

Of course, if you just want some Knob Creek with a splash of Ginger Ale, Vanbarry’s can make that for you as well.

When I first heard about Bacon Caramel Fries, I wasn't very sure about this concept. After my first bite, I can say... this changes everything! These are WOW amazingly good.. Salty, Sweet, Savory...what’s not to like about French fries topped with caramel sauce & crispy bacon crumbles?

The Mac & Cheese Skillet is simple but delicious and is filled with rich ooey gooey cheese.

The Thai Chicken Salad was also surprisingly good. It's certainly different from traditional pub fare but, the flavors and textures worked really well. This is made with mixed greens, grilled chicken, noodles, shredded carrots, red peppers, tomatoes and crushed peanuts tossed in a Thai peanut dressing.

Drinks around the fire pit.

Vanbarry’s really has done a great job of becoming a local public house and bar where everyone can relax and unwind. The prices are very affordable here, even for the more high end cocktails. I looked all over the menu, and I did not see one item over $10.00, aside of the fajitas, and those can serve two.

Come over to the southside of Orlando sometimes, and you might be surprised at what you find. I know we have the SODO area, but Vanbarry’s and a few other really good restaurants are just a bit more south away from the hustle and bustle.Vanbarry's is open from 11:00 am until 2:00 am everyday except Sunday. They serve brunch from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm on Sundays, and close at 2:00 am.

Home of the Biggest Block Parties in North Orlando Celebrates the New Year with Their Unforgettable Annual NYE Block Party and Legendary Shamrock Drop

Lake Mary will once again turn into Times Square with an iconic symbol to ring in the New Year.

Liam Fitzpatrick’s Restaurant and Irish Pub invites Central Floridians to countdown to 2018 at their annual New Year’s Eve Block Party with Colonial Town Park shopping plaza neighboring restaurants Graffiti Junktion, Dexter’s of Lake Mary, Duffy’s Sports Grill, F&D Cantina and Amura. The block party is free and open to the public and features the one of a kind “Shamrock Drop” countdown at midnight.

Plus, Liam’s block parties support Just Our Soldiers' Helpers Inc. (J.O.S.H.), who will be on site collecting donations. J.O.S.H. uplifts spirits and provides aid to deployed service members from the US Military through preparing and shipping care packages of snacks, food, hygiene products and other necessities to them.

Liam Fitzpatrick’s is carrying on the two-hundred-year-old tradition of great Irish pubs while keeping a strong commitment to the Central Florida community with a hearty mix of Irish food favorites and more, an extensive menu of quality beers and wine refreshers, warm and friendly hospitality, great music and conversation, a stellar weekly entertainment lineup and of course its spectacular annual block parties.

Central Florida’s wildly popular food truck serving fresh and delicious Mexican street food is celebrating the opening of their first brick and mortar location.

Now all food lovers have even more access to enjoy the fresh and delicious tamales of the beloved Tamale Co. Food Truck whenever they want, now that “Tamale & Company Take Out” in Altamonte Springs.

is officially open.

“We could not be more excited to officially open Tamale & Company Take Out and right in time for the holidays,” says Owners Fernando and Jennifer Tamayo. “The love surrounding the food that we so passionate about ourselves has been incredible, and we are so happy to now make it even easier for all our food truck lovers to find us and enjoy our tamales every day. We can’t wait to see everyone at our grand opening, and we hope we become everyone’s favorite stop to satisfy their cravings throughout the busy week.”

Customers of Tamale & Company Take Out will feel right at home at the 1,000 square foot quick service casual feel restaurant with a modern Mexican design. The location will serve all of the tasty tamales from the food truck, weekly special tamales and even more of a selection of the sought after Mexican street food.

Patrons can dine inside at a wall bar or outside at select tables and chairs and enjoy the ease and convenience of “grab and go” service with delicious home cooked meals, a very popular concept in the Tamayo’s hometown of Mexico City.

Tamale Co. Food Truck was founded in Orlando by Chef Fernando Tamayo and Jennifer Tamayo in December of 2012. They provide the people of Central Florida with an original and traditional assemblage of different flavors in gourmet Mexican tamales that fills the void between fast food and sit-down dining. Tamale Co. Food Trucks can be found serving at Famers’ Markets and making local food truck visits throughout Central Florida.

Hours of operation are Monday-Friday 7am-8pm and Saturday 11am-8pm (closed Sunday). For more news and information on Tamale & Company Take Out and Tamale Co. Food Truck, visit them onFacebook or at www.tamaleco.com

International Drive’s award winning nightlife and entertainment destination Mango’s Tropical Cafe will now entice even more guests with their ultimate dining, dancing and live entertainment nightly.

Recently they launched an exciting and all new A La Carte menu crafted by Executive Chef Angel Ramirez of Mango’s South Beach that debuted on Friday, November 3rd.

Mango’s Tropical Cafe, now in its 25th year on South Beach’s iconic Ocean Drive, has hosted thousands of private parties for individuals, families, offices, as well as celebrity functions and special events for large multinational corporations.

Mango’s Orlando, which opened in 2015, is a dream venue that changes the game on International Drive. It is a decadent design across 55,000 square feet that creates an epic experience people will always remember.

The new menu features Mango’s signature gourmet Floribbean cuisine, specializing in Caribbean and Latin fare, delicious Italian and American favorites and still serving a plethora of Mango’s classic tasty cocktails.

In addition, after extensive meetings with suppliers, Mango’s will pass savings onto its guests by lowering its “all doubles” Specialty Drink prices across its menu, starting at $8.95. Mango’s Orlando will still offer a three-course Pre-Fixe menu available for special occasions and VIP guest parties. The popular hotspot will also feature a brand new reservation platform on their website to further enhance guests’ dining and nightlife experience.

All of the new menu items and cocktails will now be available to guests throughout the entire venue, including the main dining room.Guests will be able to dine and enjoy open seating for Mango’s family friendly dinner and show every night of the week, which features paramount live stage entertainment including the Michael Jackson tribute, Brazilian Samba, Cuban Conga, new Belly Dancing and Rhumba Flamenca shows and many more high energy Latin inspired numbers.

Chef Angel Ramirez has definitely added that Latin flare with some sizzling dishes reminiscent of the Miami and South Beach dining scene. Some of the new items include, Chicken Al Jillo with White Rice, Creole Chicken with Yellow Rice, Ceviche Cups, Ropa Vieja Tacos and Cuban Sandwiches.

The Tropical Ceviche is a great starter at Mango’s with tender fish and fresh lime juice.

There are also some non Latin additions to the menu that are perfect bites to share during your experience here, like these Prime Rib Sliders topped with caramelized onions and radish cream sauce with a side of Au jus for dipping.

The Chicken Parmesan Sliders on homemade garlic bread with marinara sauce are also great to share, or eat all by yourself.

Mango’s also offers a few pizzas like this Wild Mushroom one with sauteed portobello mushrooms and button mushrooms with garlic, rosemary and olive oil.

Ropa Vieja Tacos were a big hit with our group. These featured shredded beef with cabbage, tomato, red onions, sharp cheddar cheese and a drizzle of cilantro aioli.

The Chicken “al Ajillo is a great dish that really accentuates what Chef Angel is bringing to the table at Mango’s. These are tender chicken strips sauteed in a garlic, white wine and lemon sauce and is served whiter rice and black beans with a side of maduros.

Caribbean Creole Chicken is another Miami centric dish with lots of flavor. This chicken breast is sauteed in a white wine base with garlic, onions, peppers, tomato, cilantro paprika, and lemon and is served with black beans, white rice and tostones.

You can never go wrong with a Cuban sandwich for simplicity and deliciousness. This version at Mango’s features slow roasted pork, tener ham and Swiss cheese. You can have fries, or onion rings with your order also.

Mango’s Tropical Cafe Orlando is the largest restaurant and banquet facility & nightlife destination on International Drive. Located near the Orange County Convention Center and all the I-Drive Hotels & Resorts, it’s the perfect place to entertain your guests. The Orlando Mango’s features lavish, unique private party areas and can accommodate up to 2,000 guests, at once.

The world famous Mango’s Dancers like the ones from South Beach, are carrying on the tradition at the Orlando location. The shows are full force and come alive with a dazzling array of lights, music, and talented performers who love what they do.

Also.. Check out Mango's for NYE 2018. Pop the champagne at the biggest New Year’s Eve celebration in Orlando at Mango’s Tropical Cafeon Sunday, December 31 from 6pm-3am.Mango’s NYE Extravaganza will include live entertainment, music, dancing, gourmet food and more featuring Mango’s special New Year’s Eve dining menu offering signature gourmet Floribbean cuisine, champagne and complimentary well drinks.Several party packages are available: General admission tickets are $50/person until December 30. Café and Veranda packages are $125/person and include a buffet of Mango’s classic cuisine and open bar well drinks.

VIP Stage Side Tables, 2nd Floor Mezzanine and Bar High-tops are $125/person and include a reserved table from 8pm to close, gourmet three-course menu and a bottle of Moet Champagne. Party goers can also indulge in the Main VIP Middle for $150/person that includes a reserved table from 8pm-close, gourmet three-course menu and a bottle of Moet Champagne.

I have always been a fan of Duffy’s and enjoy the food and drinks they offer up and all of the options to get your sports fix, but recently they have added some seasonal items to the menu that are worth checking out.

Duffy’s has recently started featuring freshly prepared, made from scratch dishes such as their Ahi Tuna Poke Bowl, seafood sensations such as Lobster Tacos and Jumbo Lump Crab Mac & Cheese and a wide variety of signature salads. Some of their specialty handcrafted cocktails include sips such as a Gummy Bear Mojito and a Cotton Candy Cosmo and more.

With a reasonably priced menu of tasty food, and all day 2 for 1 drink specials, It’s easy to see what all the fuss is about. Duffy’s menu features freshly prepared ingredients and grilled items that has everything from Chinese chopped salads to Churrasco steak. Guests can enjoy signature favorites such as Duffy’s BBQ baby back ribs, half pound certified Angus beef burgers, grilled to order steaks and much more.

A fresh draught beer and The Gummy Bear Mojito that is made with Malibu Coconut Rum, fresh lime and mint, and of course gummy bears.

Coconut Crusted Grouper Fingers feature pieces of grouper hand breaded with sweetened coconut and Panko bread crumbs and are served with a spicy orange ginger sauce.

The Ahi Tuna Poke Bowl is pretty good, especially for a sports bar. This is Ahi Tuna tossed in a signature poke sauce over cilantro-lime rice and topped with avocado, scallions, nori and toasted sesame seeds.

The Apple Tart-Tini is a perfect drink for the holiday season, and it's deceptively smooth and delicious.

Jumbo Lump Crab Macaroni & Cheese is full of succulent jumbo lump crab meat with corkscrew pasta in a creamy blend of four cheeses. This is also a really good dish for a sports bar. Very creamy and rich with great flavors.

When you visit Duffy’s, make sure to save room for the Crunchy Fried Cheesecake. This is a warm fried cheesecake served with two scoops of vanilla ice cream, Ghirardelli caramel sauce, whipped cream and a cherry, and it’s heavenly.

Duffy's has re-imagined and elevated the sports grill dining experience. All of the food we sampled was delicious and the drinks were made properly. As far as sports grills go, Duffy's is pretty hard to top.

The restaurant is open daily for lunch and dinner and offers a great combination of high quality food, affordable prices and great hospitality with great drink specials. Duffy's is big on providing a community atmosphere and really does a great job of it by offering something for everyone.

Every Tuesday, Duffy’s is also offering their signature Cheeseburger, 1/2 lb. burger and two slices of your choice of cheese, for just $5.99.

Locals will want to join Duffy’s free MVP loyalty program to earn generous rewards and exclusive benefits. MVP Members begin earning points and rewards on their first visit and can take advantage of discounts such as the Afternoon Break, which gives between 20 and 50 percent off of food purchased on weekdays between 2 and 4 pm.

MVP's earn one point for each $1 spent and when they accumulate 100 points, a $10 credit for food and beverages is automatically loaded on their MVP card. They can even earn points faster on Tuesday when members earn Double Points. Everyone who joins can look forward to free offers and gifts sent via email.